HSZG & ZEUSS: Strengthening EU research at the HSZG

On June 12, 2025, the Vice President for Research, Knowledge Transfer, and International Affairs, Prof. Dr. Sophia Keil, Fränzi Straßberger, and Lutz Haberland met with Carsten Glück, Managing Director of ZEUSS, and Dr. Gretel Wittenburg (Coordinator for Dresden and Eastern Saxony) in Zittau.

ZEUSS (Central EU Service Agency of Saxony) supports researchers with all matters related to EU funding—from the initial project idea to the final report. This free service for all university members includes, among other things, advice on funding opportunities under Horizon Europe, identifying suitable funding instruments, assistance with grant applications and contract negotiations, as well as support in establishing international collaborations and networks. If you are interested or have questions, researchers can contact Dr. Gretel Wittenburg or our EU coordinator, Lutz Haberland, at any time.

The discussion focused primarily on how to strengthen EU research at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences, information on supportive EU funding opportunities, and the establishment of strategic development processes. The goal is to make greater use of the opportunities offered by European funding programs and to position the university in an even more international and forward-looking manner. Plans include workshops on successfully submitting proposals under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Program, on widening participation, and on training to become a peer reviewer. During a tour of the university’s new DLR_School_Lab, it became impressively clear how even high school students are being inspired by research—and are experiencing how scientific ideas give rise to tangible innovations for tomorrow’s world.

This was immediately followed by a promising consultation with Prof. Dr. Mandy Schulze from the TRAWOS Institute, Julia Ochmann, as well as the Georgian visiting scholars Prof. Shorena Sadzaglishvili, Prof. Ana Kirvalidze, and their doctoral candidate Rusudan Asatiani from Ilia State University in Tbilisi. They discussed possibilities for a joint EU grant application on the topic of social cohesion. The Georgian guests’ visit was funded through ERASMUS+.

Special thanks go to all colleagues who, with great dedication, contribute to strengthening and advancing EU research at HSZG. ZEUSS currently supports all members of the HSZG by providing consultation on COST Actions, various R&D cooperation proposals, and the initiation of MSCA postdoctoral fellowships and doctoral student networks.

We look forward to the next steps together!